Clippers forward Grant Hill finally makes season debut

Grant Hill said he awoke with a serious case of butterflies Saturday. It had been a long time since he actually played in a game, but he was set to make his season debut against the Orlando Magic. Despite nearly two decades in the NBA, he was feeling unusually nervous.

The jitters only intensified as Hill checked into his first game with the Clippers and hit the floor to start the fourth quarter. He scored two points on two free throws but missed three field-goal attempts and grabbed two rebounds in 6 minutes, 25 seconds.

The Clippers lost to the Magic, which didn't make Hill very happy.

He reported no pain from the bone bruise in his right knee that sidelined him for the season's first 36 games, however. He said he looked forward to his next game, and his next and his next.

"It is good to get back out there and test your body," said Hill, a 40-year-old who signed with the Clippers as a free agent during the offseason. "The thing is you can't get overly frustrated because it is a process, but you also can be satisfied.

"You have to keep working every day."

Hill admitted his minutes were restricted. He also didn't know if he would play, although he had been cleared by the team's medical staff beforehand. Coach Vinny Del Negro kept him on the bench until the start of the fourth quarter, with the Clippers locked in a tight game with the Magic.

Hill warmed up on a stationary bike in the tunnel leading from the Clippers' locker room to the floor. He received a standing ovation from a sellout crowd of 19,060 when he finally made his entrance and was cheered whenever he handled the ball.

"It felt good to get out there," said Hill, a seven-time All-Star who began his career with the Detroit Pistons in 1994-95. "Obviously, it was tough because we lost today.

"But I certainly appreciated the support from the fans and my teammates."